Abide

Abiding as beginning

Verses:

John 15:4 CSB

Remain in me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, neither can you unless you remain in me.

Psalm 42:1 CSB

As a deer longs for flowing streams, so I long for you, God.

It can be hard to understand abiding. It is not a word we use often. Outside of the Christian faith, I am not sure if I use the word at all. This might be why so many Bible translations translate the word menoJesus uses in John 15 as “remain” or “stay.” Whether we say abide, remain, or stay, we can understand Jesus as saying to keep ourselves in Him—but how do we do this? One way is to think of abiding as a beginning.

Our smartphones have a home screen. What we abide in is like the home screen on our phones—it’s where we start. When we turn on our phones, there are apps on the home screen. If we hit the home button or swipe up twice, the phone goes home. It’s the starting point. We all have a “home screen” in our minds—the place we begin. We may like or dislike it, but either way, it’s there. We cannot change the fact that we have a default screen or starting point, but we can change what is there. We are in control of the home screen of our minds.

When you wake up, what do you think about? When you are frustrated, what is your default? When you are worried, where does your mind go? When you are in need, what are your thoughts? If they are not Jesus or Christlike, you can change that.

Refocusing Ourselves

Are there practices like prayer, Bible reading, or worship you could start your day with? Before email, before socials, before anything else—can you change your starting point?

When the day progresses and things happen, how do you respond? Is it a way that gives you peace and rest? Are there practices like gratitude or thankfulness you can turn to? Instead of being angry when you are running late, can you say, “Thank you, Jesus—I have a destination”?

We, as children of God, have the right and authority to change our beginning every day. Are you walking with that right and authority?

Abiding as identity.

John 1:12 CSB

But to all who did receive him, he gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in his name,

Romans 8:31–39 CSB

What, then, are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He did not even spare his own Son but gave him up for us all. How will he not also with him grant us everything? Who can bring an accusation against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies. Who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is the one who died, but even more, has been raised; he also is at the right hand of God and intercedes for us. Who can separate us from the love of Christ? Can affliction or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: Because of you we are being put to death all day long; we are counted as sheep to be slaughtered. No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Who am I? Where does my value come from? Is it in my roles, or is it in Christ?

We can place our value in so many things—even really good things. I am a pastor, a teacher, a father, a husband, a son, a friend, and a few other things. I love being these things, but as great as they are (and I love being a dad), they cannot be my identity.

Why is this? If they are good, why not find my identity in these great titles?

Simply put, because they are all fleeting. They can all disappear. Everything on this earth is temporary. We can take that to an unhealthy place, so we must be careful. What we can understand is that while our titles and positions can be great, nothing is better than the identity of being a child of God. That is the one that stays.

Long after we die, if we are in Christ, we are still children of God. This is the best thing ever! Nothing can change this. When we understand our identity in Christ, we can abide and remain. Why is this? Because it gives us freedom and access.

As children of God, we have freedom from sin and freedom to do what we want to do. We can say no to what we do not want, and yes to what we do want. We are free in the truest sense of the word—total and unabashed freedom in Christ.

As children of God, we are free to access Him whenever we need Him. If we are in need, we can call on Him. If we are scared, we can call on Him. If we are lonely, He is there.

We have access to the One who designed the stars. Access to the One who framed the universe. Access to the Lord of all.

God tells us His name is I Am Who I Am. So, when we need to abide or rest, we can rest in the One Who Is. We find our identity in Him.

Abiding as Desire

Matthew 23:37 CSB

“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her. How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!

Song of Solomon 5:8 CSB

Young women of Jerusalem, I charge you, if you find my love, tell him that I am lovesick.

Do you want the things of God? Do you crave the things of God?

Like a teenager eagerly waiting to get their license and taste freedom.

Or like someone in love, counting the moments until they see the one they long for.

Do you want the things of God?

Desire isn’t just a part of abiding or remaining in Christ—it’s crucial. It’s a necessity.

Wanting Jesus, wanting a relationship with Him, wanting godly things—is essential to abiding. We cannot—or perhaps will not—abide without desire. In today’s passage in Matthew, Jesus says He wanted to gather His people to Himself, but they were unwilling. They did not want Him.

It’s a two-way street. God wants you. He wants a relationship with you. But you must want it too.

In the book of Song of Songs, there’s a story of two people in love, and the language is strong, poetic, and passionate. It paints a vivid picture of deep, overwhelming desire. At one point, the woman says she is lovesick—she can’t wait to be with the one her heart desires.

Do you want the things of God like that? Is He that important to you? Abiding and desiring to abide go hand in hand.

Take some time to ask yourself honestly: Do I want to desire Him? Not because I should want to, but because I actually want to.

Whatever your answer is—that's okay. Bring it to God. Pray and ask Him to either give you the desire or increase the desire. He will meet you there.